Rastafari Culture The Extreme Ethiopian Rasta Vs. The Mellow Dallas Rasta

5309 Words11 Pages

Rastafari Culture The Extreme Ethiopian Rasta Vs. The Mellow Dallas Rasta

Many people throughout the world have a hard time understanding what it means to be a Rasta. For some their troubles in understanding Rasta’s come because they look as Rastafari as only a religion. When one does this they run into many problems. This is because Rastafari is much more than a religion. It is a way of life, a social movement, as well as a mind set. Another reason why western people have a hard time understanding Rastafari is because the movement lacks the structure that the western world is use to.

A lot of people’s understanding of Rasta’s only goes as far as to think that Rasta’s are people that live in Jamaica, smoke weed, and have Dreadlocks. These people do not begin to think what is behind the movement. The idea that Rastafari is strictly Jamaican is also very wrong. Since the origination of Rastafari, the Rasta movement has expanded far beyond the island of Jamaica. Rasta’s now live all over the world. There are Rasta cultures in all parts of Europe, Asia, New Zealand, United States, and especially Africa. This paper seeks to explain Rastafari and to show it’s expansion by exposing Rasta’s culture from it’s most holy form in Ethiopia to one of it’s least holy in Dallas Texas.

The Development of Rastafari

The Rastafari movement stems from the teachings of the great Jamaican leader and motivator of masses, Maces Garvey. Garvey told the African people of the world to unite and to return to African, the homeland. Garvey’s vision was for the “Blacks to overcome their feelings of inferiority and build upon their own unique and evolving culture, and ultimately return to Africa to redeem their homeland and to build a future...

... middle of paper ...

...own That Rasatafarians Built.” Ethiopian World Federation June 1

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<www.jahworks.org/music/feachtures/rastafari.htm>

Nicholas, Tracy. Rastafari A Way of Life (Pamphlet no other info given)

Jones, Linda. “The Rasta Way – Dallas Rastafarian community steadfastly pratices an

often misunderstood religion” 08/11/96 Niceup April 4 2002

<niceup.com/articles/rasta_in_dallas> Lewis, William. Soul Rebels The Rastafari. Prospect Heights: Waveland Press, Inc., 1993

“Rastafari Campaigner Taking Cannabis Case To African Commission” South African

Press Association 20 March 2002 <web.lexis-nexis.com/univrse/doc.

“South African; Avoid Superficial View Prince Judgment” African News Service,Inc

African News. 5 February 2002<wed.lexis-nexis.com/universe/doc.>

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